Gravity training ball having a buffer function

ABSTRACT

A gravity training ball includes a ball core unit having a predetermined weight specification, a buffer unit covering the ball core unit and made of a material having a shock absorbing effect, and an outer cover unit covering the buffer unit. The ball core unit includes an inner bladder defining a receiving space, and a filler received in the receiving space. The inner bladder has an inflation valve for inflation of air into the receiving space. The buffer unit has a thickness ranging from 2 mm to 30 mm. The ball core unit further includes an inner wrapped yarn layer disposed between the inner bladder and the buffer unit. The outer cover unit includes an outer cover layer covering the buffer unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/145,447, filed on Sep. 28, 2018.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to sports and fitness equipment, more particularly to a gravity training ball having a buffer function.

BACKGROUND

Referring to FIG. 1, an existing gravity training device is mainly made of rubber mixed with powdered minerals and then molded into a hollow ball shape. The gravity training device has an inner surface 2 defining an inner space 1, and an outer surface 3 opposite to the inner surface 2. By changing a wall thickness between the inner and cuter surfaces 2, 3 of the gravity training device, the purpose of adjusting the weight thereof according to different users or different exercising requirements can be achieved.

Referring to FIG. 2, another existing gravity training device includes an inner membrane 5 covering a counterweight filling unit 4, and an outer membrane 6 covering the inner membrane 5. The counterweight filling unit 4 may be waste materials, such as gravel and waste tire granules. The outer membrane 6 may be formed by sewing or molding. By changing the proportion of the gravel and the waste tire granules, the purpose of adjusting the weight thereof according to different users or different exercising requirements can be achieved.

Although each of the aforesaid gravity training devices can achieve its intended purpose, when the user performs self-training, such as holding, lifting, reversing, or throwing, he/she may be easily injured because the gravity training device itself has a considerable weight.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a gravity training ball that has a buffer function and that is safe to use.

According to this disclosure, a gravity training ball includes a ball core unit having a predetermined weight specification, a buffer unit covering the ball core unit and made of a material having a shock absorbing effect, and an outer cover unit covering the buffer unit. The ball core unit includes an inner bladder that defines a receiving space, and a filler received in the receiving space. The inner bladder has an inflation valve for inflation of air into the receiving space. The buffer unit has a thickness ranging from 2 mm to 30 mm. The ball core unit further includes an inner wrapped yarn layer disposed between the inner bladder and the buffer unit. The outer cover unit includes an outer cover layer covering the buffer unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an existing gravity training device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of another existing gravity training device;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a gravity training ball according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a gravity training ball according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a gravity training ball according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating an alternative form of a ball core unit of the third embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a gravity training ball according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a gravity training ball according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the present disclosure is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying embodiment, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, a gravity training ball 500 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a ball core unit 10, a buffer unit 20, and an outer cover unit 30. The gravity training ball 500 has a total weight of not less than 800 grams.

The ball core unit 10 can be made into a predetermined weight specification according to the use requirement, and includes an inner bladder 11 defining a receiving space 111, an inner wrapped yarn layer 12 covering the inner bladder 11, and a filler 133 received in the receiving space 111 and serving as a counterweight. The inner bladder 11 is made of synthetic rubber, and has an inflation valve 112 for inflation of air into the receiving space 111. The inner wrapped yarn layer 12 is formed by wrapping yarns around the inner bladder 11. The filler 133 is powdered minerals (including gravel and sands), waste rubber powder or a combination thereof, and is filled into the receiving space 111 through the inflation valve 112.

The buffer unit 20 fully covers the ball core unit 10, and is made of a material having a shock absorbing effect. The material of the buffer unit 20 is selected from one of sponge, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), rubber foam, silicone, or a combination thereof.

The buffer unit 20 has a thickness ranging from 2 mm to 30 mm. The preferable ranges of the thickness of the buffer unit 20 are as follows: 3 mm to 15 mm, 8 mm to 12 mm, 9 mm to 15 mm, 9 mm to 20 mm, 10 mm to 25 mm, and 25 mm to 30 mm.

The outer cover unit 30 includes an outer wrapped yarn layer 31 and an outer cover layer 32. The outer wrapped yarn layer 31 is formed by wrapping yarns around the buffer unit 20. The outer cover layer 32 covers the outer wrapped yarn layer 31. The forming method of the outer cover layer 32 of this embodiment is performed by heating in a forming mold (not shown). That is, after the ball core unit 10, the buffer unit 20 and the outer cover unit 30 are assembled and placed in the forming mold, air is inflated into the receiving space 111 through the inflation valve 112, so that the inner bladder 11 can produce an expanding effect on the outer cover layer 32 and an outer surface of the outer cover layer 32 can be shaped according to the shape and pattern of the mold cavity of the forming mold.

The gravity training ball 500 further has a through hole 40 extending from the outer cover layer 32 to the inflation valve 112.

In this embodiment, the receiving space 111 may be filled with fillers 133 of different weight specifications according to different gravity training requirements. When a user performs self-training, such as holding, lifting, reversing, or throwing using the gravity training ball 500, he/she may be prevented from injury because of the presence of the buffer unit 20, which can generate a buffering effect. Further, through the provision of the inner wrapped yarn layer 12 and the outer wrapped yarn layer 31, the structure of the gravity training ball 500 can be strengthened. Moreover, because the outer cover layer 32 is moldable into a predetermined pattern appearance, it has a strengthening and wear-resistant function.

It is worth to mention herein that the inner wrapped yarn layer 12 or the outer wrapped yarn layer 31 may be omitted for other training purposes.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second embodiment of the gravity training ball 500′ of this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the ball core unit 10′ is preformed into a solid ball shape using a mixture of powdered minerals and foaming material, and serves as a counterweight. The ball core unit 10′ can be made with different weight specifications according to different gravity training requirements. The buffer unit 20′ fully covers the ball core unit 10′, but may partially cover the ball core unit 10′ in other embodiment. The outer cover unit 30′ further includes an inner cover layer 33 made of rubber and directly formed on and covering the buffer unit 20′. The inner cover layer 33 has an inflation valve 331. The outer wrapped yarn layer 31′ is formed around the inner cover layer 33.

By inflating air into a space between the buffer unit 20′ and the inner cover layer 33 through the inflation valve 331, the inner cover layer 33 is expanded to have a fixed ball shape, and the outer cover layer 32′ is also expanded so that the outer surface thereof can also be shaped according to the shape and pattern of the mold cavity of the forming mold. The through hole 40′ of this embodiment extends from the outer cover layer 32′ to the inflation valve 331.

It is worth to mention herein that the outer wrapped yarn layer 31′ may be omitted for other training purposes. In this embodiment, the ball core unit 10′ is made into a solid ball shape. Alternatively, the ball core unit 10′ may be made to include a counterweight main body having a hollow ball shape and defining an interior space, and a filler filled in the interior space. The counterweight main body may include two half-ball bodies mated to each other.

By varying the weight of the ball core unit 10′ according to the requirement of the user, the purpose of adjusting the gravity training using the gravity training ball 500′ can be achieved. The advantages of the first embodiment can be similarly achieved using the second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the third embodiment of the gravity training ball 500″ of this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the ball core unit 10″ further includes a counterweight 13 made of rubber and disposed between the buffer unit 20″ and the inner bladder 11″. The buffer unit 20″ partially covers the ball core unit 10″, and includes a plurality of buffer pieces 21. The buffer pieces 21 may not be interconnected, or may be connected to each other through a plurality of bridge portions (not shown). The outer cover unit 30″ further includes an inner cover layer 33 covering the buffer unit 20″ and having an inflation valve 331. The outer wrapped yarn layer 31″ is formed around the inner cover layer 33. The through hole 40″ extends from the outer cover layer 32″ to the inflation valve 331.

During making of the gravity training ball 500″, air is first inflated into the receiving space 111 through the inflation valve 112, after which the counterweight 13 covers the inner bladder 11″, so that through the expansion of the inner bladder 11″, the shape of the counterweight 13 may be fixed. Next, by inflating air into a space between the buffer unit 20″ and the inner cover layer 33 through the inflation valve 331, the outer cover layer 32″ is expanded, and the outer surface of the outer cover layer 32″ can be shaped according to the shape and pattern of the mold cavity of the forming mold.

It is worth to mention herein that the outer wrapped yarn layer 31″ may be omitted for other training purposes.

In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the ball core unit 10″ further includes an inner wrapped yarn layer 12″ disposed between the inner bladder 11″ and the counterweight 13.

In another alternative embodiment that is not shown, the counterweight 13 may include a counterweight main body having a hollow ball shape and defining an interior space, and a filler filled in the interior space. The counterweight main body may cover the inner bladder, and the filler may be disposed between the counterweight main body and the inner bladder. The counterweight main body may include two half-ball bodies mated to each other.

By varying the thickness of the counterweight 13 according to the requirement of the user, the purpose of adjusting the gravity training using the gravity training ball 500″ can be achieved. The advantages of the first embodiment can be similarly achieved using the third embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, the fourth embodiment of the gravity training ball (500 a) of this disclosure includes a ball core unit 100, a buffer unit 200, and an outer cover unit 300.

The ball core unit 100 includes an inner bladder 110 having an inflation valve 112, an inner wrapped yarn layer 120 covering the inner bladder 110, and a counterweight 130 covered by the inner bladder 110. The counterweight 130 includes a counterweight main body 132 having a hollow ball shape and defining an interior space 131, and a filler 133 filled in the interior space 131. The counterweight main body 132 includes two half-ball bodies 132′ mated to each other. It is worth to mention herein that the inner wrapped yarn layer 120 may be omitted.

In this embodiment, the buffer unit 200 partially covers the ball core unit 100, and includes a plurality of buffer pieces 210. The buffer pieces 210 may not be interconnected, or may be connected to each other through a plurality of bridge portions (not shown).

The outer cover unit 300 only includes the outer cover layer 320 having a concave-convex three-dimensional shape matching that of the buffer unit 200, and covers the buffer unit 200.

The gravity training ball (500 a) further has a through hole 400 extending from the outer cover layer 320 to the inflation valve 112.

By varying the weight of the counterweight 130 according to the requirement of the user, the purpose of adjusting the gravity training using the gravity training ball (500 a) can be achieved. The advantages of the first embodiment can be similarly achieved using the fourth embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, the fifth embodiment of the gravity training ball (500 b) of this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to the first embodiment. Particularly, the gravity training ball (500 b) includes a ball core unit 100′, a buffer unit 200′ covering the ball core unit 100′, and an outer cover unit 300′ covering the buffer unit 200′. However, in this embodiment, the ball core unit 100′ includes an inner bladder 110′ defining a receiving space 111, a counterweight 130′ covering the inner bladder 110′, and a filler 133 received in the receiving space 111. The inner bladder 110′ has an inflation valve 112 for inflation of air into the receiving space 111. The filler 133 is powdered minerals (including gravel and sands), waste rubber powder or a combination thereof. The filler 133 is filled into the receiving space 111 through the inflation valve 112.

The gravity training ball (500 b) further has a through hole 400′ extending from the outer cover layer 320′ to the inflation valve 112′.

The buffer unit 200′ fully covers the ball core unit 100′. Alternatively, the buffer unit 200′ may partially cover the ball core unit 100′, and the outer cover unit 300′ may have a concave-convex three-dimensional shape matching that of the buffer unit 200′.

By varying the weight of the counterweight 130′ or the filler 133 according to the requirement of the user, the purpose of adjusting the gravity training using the gravity training ball (500 b) can be achieved. The advantages of the aforesaid embodiment can be similarly achieved using the fifth embodiment.

From the aforesaid description, it is apparent that by using the thickness of the buffer unit 20 that ranges from 2 mm to 30 mm, and by selecting the preferable range of the thickness of the buffer unit 20 from the following: 3 mm to 15 mm, 8 mm to 12 mm, 9 mm to 15 mm, 9 mm to 20 mm, 10 mm to 25 mm, and 25 mm to 30 mm, when different users perform different exercises according to their exercising requirements, such as holding, lifting, reversing, throwing, etc., using the gravity training ball 500, 500′, 500″, 500 a, 500 b, he/she may be prevented from injury because of the presence of the buffer unit 20, 20′, 20″, 200, 200′ and because of the different thicknesses of the buffer unit 20, 20′, 20″, 200, 200′ that can generate different buffering effects. Further, by utilizing the weight configurations of the ball core unit 10, 10′, 10″, 100, 100′, the buffer unit 20, 20′, 20″, 200, 200′ and the outer cover unit 30, 30′, 30″, 300, 300′, and with the counterweight 13, 130, 130′ filled with different weight specifications, the total weight of the gravity training ball 500, 500′, 500″, 500 a, 500 b is not less than 800 grams, so that the gravity training ball 500, 500′, 500″, 500 a, 500 b can effectively meet different weight training needs.

It should be noted herein that although the drawing of the gravity training ball 500, 500′, 500″, 500 a, 500 b in each of the embodiments of this disclosure is presented in ball shape, the gravity training ball 500, 500′, 500″, 500 a, 500 b of this disclosure may be made into a cylindrical shape, a triangular shape or other irregular shapes, and is not limited thereto.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A gravity training ball comprising: a ball core unit having a predetermined weight specification and including an inner bladder that defines a receiving space, and a filler received in said receiving space, said inner bladder having an inflation valve for inflation of air into said receiving space; a buffer unit covering said ball core unit and made of a material having a shock absorbing effect, said buffer unit having a thickness ranging from 2 mm to 30 mm; and an outer cover unit covering said buffer unit; wherein said ball core unit further includes an inner wrapped yarn layer disposed between said inner bladder and said buffer unit, and said outer cover unit includes an outer cover layer covering said buffer unit.
 2. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of said buffer unit ranges from 3 mm to 15 mm.
 3. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of said buffer unit ranges from 3 mm to 12 mm.
 4. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of said buffer unit ranges from 9 mm to 15 mm.
 5. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of said buffer unit ranges from 9 mm to 20 mm.
 6. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of said buffer unit ranges from 10 mm to 25 mm.
 7. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of said buffer unit ranges from 25 mm to 30 mm.
 8. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gravity training ball has a total weight of not less than 800 grams. 